taurine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a colorless crystalline substance obtained from the bile of mammals
  2. adjective of or relating to or resembling a bull

WordNet

Tau"rine adjective
Etymology
L. taurinus, fr. taurus a bull. See Taurus.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus Taurus, or cattle.
Tau"rine noun
Etymology
So named because it was discovered in the bile of the ox. See Taurus.
Definitions
  1. (Physiol. Chem.) A body occurring in small quantity in the juices of muscle, in the lungs, and elsewhere, but especially in the bile, where it is found as a component part of taurocholic acid, from which it can be prepared by decomposition of the acid. It crystallizes in colorless, regular six-sided prisms, and is especially characterized by containing both nitrogen and sulphur, being chemically amido-isethionic acid, CHNSO.

Webster 1913